Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

[kdilks]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

You have to be kidding, or blind. His shoulder was directly into his sternum.

Can't get a good screenshot from the youtube video, but you can see the brown on Lucia's shoulder level with Wiley's head as contact is made. All that really matters is with the way Lucia brings his arms up after the hit, it at least looks a lot like a cheap-shot to the head, which makes the reaction on the ice justified.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Can't get a good screenshot from the youtube video, but you can see the brown on Lucia's shoulder level with Wiley's head as contact is made. All that really matters is with the way Lucia brings his arms up after the hit, it at least looks a lot like a cheap-shot to the head, which makes the reaction on the ice justified.

lol. You have now lost all credibility in anything. Well done.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

A must win for the Gophers tonight. IMO a Gopher loss will diminish whatever amount of confidence they've gained from recently beating crappy teams, further solidify at best a 7th place finish and looking at their remaining schedule, the door to the NCAAs will be nearly closed. If both CC and UND win tonight, it will be very difficult for the Gophers to crawl out of a 7th place finish.

I think UND will come out strong tonight and play much better defense. Sat. nights have not been big for UND this season, so they will most likely be focused on trying to improve upon that. The Gophers, on the other hand, need to play better defense in their end and find some confidence to go to the net. This game may end up being a bit more chippy too, so they need to stay out of PIM trouble. Lastly, Kangas needs to stand on his head for this one.

 

[gordwiser]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Gophers played very well last night... the players threw their weight around and set an aggressive tone. The line of Cepis, Schroeder, and Budish was a killer combination. Fischer is a liability for the team on D. He could just as well of had a black jersey on in that game. Looking forward to tonight's game.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

UND outshot the Gophers 14-2 in the third and yet Kangas was very sharp throughout the whole game, which is what the Gophers needed tonight. This team showed signs tonight of the type of team they need to be down the stretch. The fluke goal by Budish was a nice payback from all the fluke deflections the Gophers have endured this season. Forechecking was solid and the D was much improved from last night. Very encouraging win tonight!!

 

[HoosierBBall_GopherHockey]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I just want to apologize to ScoobyDoo for screwing up his predictions in picking a UND sweep this weekend...that is all.

Huge weekend for UMN. Let's follow it up vs. SCSU. This weekend will be for naught if we can't get 3 or more points against SCSU.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Huge weekend for UMN. Let's follow it up vs. SCSU. This weekend will be for naught if we can't get 3 or more points against SCSU.

You guys are hosed. Kangas just blew his best game of the season in a Jan series, and now you're going against a SCSU team that views the SCSU/UMN series as their National Championship game.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Nice win, good weekend for the Gophers and now it's time to take down the pups.

 

[HoosierBBall_GopherHockey]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

You guys are hosed. Kangas just blew his best game of the season in a Jan series, and now you're going against a SCSU team that views the SCSU/UMN series as their National Championship game.

Sadly, as much as you're joking, you're right.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Sounds strange saying it, but it felt like MN stole this game. At one point in the 2nd period, UND had outchanced MN 10-2 in that period (about halfway through). Chances in the 3rd were probably similarly lopsided. Fortunately for MN, they had some major puckluck for a change, and Kangas continued his solid play from the previous night. This is the guy we saw in '07-'08, and that's a very encouraging sign.

The team is playing better defensively than they did early in the season, but they are still giving up a significant number of shots and chances. The key will be continuing to limit the second (and third) chances, along with not being dip****s by all committing to one side in their own zone leaving the backside uncovered.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Sounds strange saying it, but it felt like MN stole this game. At one point in the 2nd period, UND had outchanced MN 10-2 in that period (about halfway through). Chances in the 3rd were probably similarly lopsided. Fortunately for MN, they had some major puckluck for a change, and Kangas continued his solid play from the previous night. This is the guy we saw in '07-'08, and that's a very encouraging sign.

The team is playing better defensively than they did early in the season, but they are still giving up a significant number of shots and chances. The key will be continuing to limit the second (and third) chances, along with not being dip****s by all committing to one side in their own zone leaving the backside uncovered.

I don't think there is any doubt that the Gophers stole this game. I said it last night, MN was going to have to find a way to beat a better team, and they did....that way was named Alex Kangas. But at the same time, MN actually turned some opportunities into goals, and started to play with some much needed confidence. It's still a long haul to try to scrap into home ice and the NCAA bubble, but this weekend was a step in the right direction.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

You guys are hosed. Kangas just blew his best game of the season in a Jan series, and now you're going against a SCSU team that views the SCSU/UMN series as their National Championship game.

Pretty much. Every weekend is a must 3-pt/sweep. SCSU, you're up next.

 

[HoosierBBall_GopherHockey]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Pretty much. Every weekend is a must 3-pt/sweep. SCSU, you're up next.

I apologize for getting in your grill Scoobs, but at least we got 3 from UND. It's been a LONG time since we've been able to say that. We beat SCSU in the series 6-0 last season, and I think we can take 3 from them too, as good as they've looked. Come on Gophs, keep it going!

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Pretty much. Every weekend is a must 3-pt/sweep. SCSU, you're up next.

I don't think so. SCSU, CC, and UAA are must-3pt weekends. DU, Wisco, and Duluth are must split so long as we get the 3pts in the aforementioned three.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I don't think so. SCSU, CC, and UAA are must-3pt weekends. DU, Wisco, and Duluth are must split so long as we get the 3pts in the aforementioned three.

I hope you're right, but we'll see. Better to side on the side of caution. A sweep this weekend would have given a little buffer perhaps, 3 was just getting what was needed done.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I hope you're right, but we'll see. Better to side on the side of caution. A sweep this weekend would have given a little buffer perhaps, 3 was just getting what was needed done.

Certainly, it would be really squeaking into home ice. But IMO CC and SCSU are the two team most vulnerable to slipping out of home ice, with UND the thrid possibility. This weekend evened up the tiebreak with UND, 3pts against CC and SCSU will give us the tiebreak against them. We aren't going to catch UMD, DU, or Wisco...so if we are going to lose, it has to be against those teams.
By my monkey-math, I figured heading into this weekend the gophers needed 18-20 pts over the final 14 to hit 5th place so long as they were against the right teams.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Sounds strange saying it, but it felt like MN stole this game. At one point in the 2nd period, UND had outchanced MN 10-2 in that period (about halfway through). Chances in the 3rd were probably similarly lopsided. Fortunately for MN, they had some major puckluck for a change, and Kangas continued his solid play from the previous night. This is the guy we saw in '07-'08, and that's a very encouraging sign.

The team is playing better defensively than they did early in the season, but they are still giving up a significant number of shots and chances. The key will be continuing to limit the second (and third) chances, along with not being dip****s by all committing to one side in their own zone leaving the backside uncovered.

Unlike most posters, I don't necessarily feel the Gophs "beat a better team" or "stole one". I think without Genoway (and MN without Bariball) they are similarly skilled teams. The goaltender is PART of the team so needs to be considered when comparing teams. If one team generates a few less chances but has a clearly better goaltender, overall they can still be the better team. (Stealing a game to me is when a goalie plays better than he ever has and all the bounces go one way.) I think as Gopher fans, we are used to historically being on the other side of the coin, where offensively, we are better than most opponents but goaltending maybe wasn't quite as good as some of the opponents which relied on their goalie more. So we focus on chances when evaluating our team's play. I think, because of goaltending, this team is better than many give them credit for. Unlike Scooby, I expected a split, at least, this weekend, and would not have been surprised with a sweep, based on the way they have been playing. I still feel they could be one of the top three in the WCHA by season's end (ability-wise, not likely rank) and with a hot goalie and continued improvement, capable of beating anyone on any given night (which wasn't where they were at a month or two ago).

 

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Sounds strange saying it, but it felt like MN stole this game. At one point in the 2nd period, UND had outchanced MN 10-2 in that period (about halfway through). Chances in the 3rd were probably similarly lopsided. Fortunately for MN, they had some major puckluck for a change, and Kangas continued his solid play from the previous night. This is the guy we saw in '07-'08, and that's a very encouraging sign.

The team is playing better defensively than they did early in the season, but they are still giving up a significant number of shots and chances. The key will be continuing to limit the second (and third) chances, along with not being dip****s by all committing to one side in their own zone leaving the backside uncovered.

When a team beats another by four goals hardly would I ever call it a game the Gophers stoled.

 

[fawiigy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Hey, I just got my tickets for the Target Center Border Battle game. Why are season ticket holders given upper deck tickets? We should be a someone's door with torches and pitchforks!!!!!

 

[StateOfGophers]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Sounds strange saying it, but it felt like MN stole this game. At one point in the 2nd period, UND had outchanced MN 10-2 in that period (about halfway through). Chances in the 3rd were probably similarly lopsided. Fortunately for MN, they had some major puckluck for a change, and Kangas continued his solid play from the previous night. This is the guy we saw in '07-'08, and that's a very encouraging sign.

The team is playing better defensively than they did early in the season, but they are still giving up a significant number of shots and chances. The key will be continuing to limit the second (and third) chances, along with not being dip****s by all committing to one side in their own zone leaving the backside uncovered.

It definitely felt that way in the second period where Kangas made a half-dozen quality saves to keep the game at 1-0 (I expected a tie game before the Budish chip), but after the Lucia goal it felt like Minnesota was in control. While the chances in the third were lopsided, a lot of it had to do with all the penalties Minnesota took and many of those weren't great opportunities (there were a couple besides the Zajac one, but Kangas was well positioned and many of those shots were from outside the slot) - it didn't feel like the 5-2 Wisconsin game earlier in the season.

There's a lot of positives to take out of the two games this weekend, although for me the big thing I'd like to see is the defense do a better job of collapsing and limit some of the easier shots. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, although with this season it's hard to tell what will happen. It seems like for every step forward the U takes, it ends up going back one.